Past Stories

Manga Studio 5

Woman Tonight

Lordy, what have I done now? Yeah, cranked the start of your weekend just right. Lovin’ the Police Line tape on Robyn. The Members will get the option of seeing the tapeless version on request… so ask away. Not a Member? Consider joining. Christmas is coming…

Story building as we get closer to the real music pirates. The suspense is killing me… not really, I know how it ends. Just gotta draw it now.

Man, America recorded some major hits in the ’70s. You couldn’t go a month without one of their songs being on the chart it seemed. FM radio dug them too as they had a great sound for those mellow evening DJs out there. And “Woman Tonight” hits this comic perfectly. Crank it at the bass solo! Yes! Bass solo! Love it.

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Discussion (31) ¬

Love the storyline. Love some of the panels. But I have to say that I’m finding your recent directions style-wise to be ever more confusing, because – to my eyes at least – you seem to have abandoned that fantastic pre-hiatus style that you’d gradually evolved. The ‘evolved’ look of a few months ago had a gestalt., see; each character looked like the same person from panel to panel and strip to strip. Of late, though, so many of the character drawings look like a grab-bag of pastiches (i.e. assorted homages to your favourite comix artists and whatnot), and – again, to my eyes – are losing the individuality that made them so special. Jeff is still coming through relatively unscathed, but Bud and Robyn’s faces change all the time.

I hate to criticise, but I really, really do miss the pre-hiatus style (best typified by the will college weekend storyline). Just my ha’peth – and do remember that I have the same complaint about the vast majority of mainstream dead-tree comix these days!

I don’t consider it a criticism, but merely an expression of what you like or don’t like about the current style.

On one hand, I’m cranking out some of my best work. The posing in the last panel is righteous (for me) and is something I could not have done a year ago without a TON of looking at sample photographs to get inspiration for posing. Now, they just come out of my head.

Now, something I am NOT doing is I do not have a character style sheet by my drawing space anymore. I use to have a reference sheet for each character, and I believe I know what you’re talking about and I can get those style sheets out and have them as references. I’m drawing from memory of late, and, knowing my drinking experiences from the late ’70s, not all my brain cells are firing anymore. Particularly with all the stress in the home life.

I welcome comments on the comic in any form. I may or may not agree with them all, but at least you all know this forum is open and as long as there’s respect for everyone’s opinions, then fire away!

As you know, I’ve already pointed out numerous times that you’ve achieved some things that most comix artists NEVER do – to wit, fabulously lifelike hands, and also a strong, vibrant sense of ‘kinetics’ in your posing. I referred to evolution several times in my comment above, and that’s another plus – you’ve come so far and grown so much as an artist since you started this comic. But yes, I’m missing the strong ‘character ID’ you developed earlier this year!

Let me also add, I appreciate folks who speak their mind and not just give me a “golf clap” with every comic. Creative types can sometimes get surround by followers who will love *anything* they do, regardless of the quality. So, if I suck, so say. If I’m on the mark, so say.

Thank you, Christian, but I feel everyone is entitled to an opinion. TAKAN is not attacking the comic, she’s stating her feelings in an adult, non-threatening way. Now, I may not agree, but she, as you, are entitled to express your opinions freely here.

That said, I think I’m rockin’ the house lately, but shall look back over my archives to see what TAFKAN is talking about.

I also think your house is rockin’ mate! 😀 Great comic, great police tape! 😉 And yes, as a member I do expect to see the line crossed – so to speak! LOL But on;y coz I know you love drawing boobs almost as much as we love looking at them! 😉 LOL
Love the music choice too, America have always been one of my favourite bands and this quirky little tune is a great example of what they could produce!
Keep up the good work and love and best wishes to the missus, hope she’s getting better!

I’m trying to claim the title of “best boob cartoonist” and I’ve got some stiff (no pun intended) competition. But, I’m making progress. Your line shall be crossed this weekend as I finish up the inks and colors on the alternate version.
😛

Paul has a strong style and certainly can draw the ladies, but I’ve noticed some sensitivity on his part in the past (maybe not today) when readers comment about his character’s boobs. My only comment is if you’re going to draw large chested women, then prepare thy self for the drooling dogs known as men to come a running. I for one welcome the attention my women characters bring the comic. But, I’ve also tried to make Lorraine and Robyn strong characters in that they handle themselves and certainly are the driving force of the band.

Great song choice, Byron! America was too often overlooked as merely a laid back accoustic folk rock band, but produced quite a varied sound. I remember seeing them in the early-mid 70’s w/ Ambrosia & 10CC – quite surprized by them. Sadly, we just lost one of the original three – guitar/bass player Dan Peek, in July.

My suspicion is that Robyn crossed a police line. Arrest at that point is pretty much mandatory. Interrogation without a lawyer present ..? I’m gonna have to advise her that NO evidence so collected is admissible. Probably needs a do-over …. 😉 😛

Man, I went through an America phase. Had everything pressed to vinyl prior to 1980. Still love the old stuff, but get my fill a lot quicker. Had over half a dozen 90 min. cassettes mixed heavy with America, Steely Dan, Bread, Wings, Simon & Garfunkel, CSNY, plus similar themes and played those out for ten years. Very often threw one of those on while driving a car/busload of acid test casualties out of Grateful Dead show and onto the next. Great wind-down for frayed nerves, and almost always lead into a couple hours of Marley before the Dead boots started to cycle again. Ventura Highway, in particular, an album hard to get tired of, especially for a child of LA like myself. Can still remember listening to them on the AM bands (along with Jim Croce and Helen Reddy) on the way to the beach.

Considering that the good “Doctor” Carlin made it into your storyline, perhaps there’s room to consider a somewhat Gonzo character ..? Half a decade of my life resembled Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with a good bit of Kesey, Ginsburg and Kerouac rubbed all over it. Not only did I stop in bat country, I actually camped out in it a few times. 😉

I want a do-over. No, I mean, literally … I want to do it all over again! 😀

*laughs* Love it. Always figured Robyn for an awesome switch-hitter. In real life, she’d break her wrist with it cuffed that way… but hell, this is a comic strip, right? 🙂

My own America memory includes my old teenage desire to learn how to play guitar so I could sit outside and be cool while girls came over to listen to me play. What song did I try to learn first? “Ventura Highway.” My guitar teacher himself couldn’t quite puzzle out the core riff, and he suggested I try something simpler. Eventually, I did: playing electric bass instead of acoustic guitar! Never got any chicks (I was married by the time I started gigging out), but I DID have a great time!

Bass player never get the chicks anyway… always sloppy seconds from the lead guitarist and/or the lead vocalist. Something to be said for those of us who stand and “thump” for a living.

Ah, dude, Ventura Highway seems like a really hard song to start off with. Most guys I knew wanted to play Stairway to Heaven, which is more picking then strumming chords. Now, as bass players, we can pick notes with the best of them, but I’m crap at anything outside of open-power chords.

And I’m glad to be back! Missed doing this on a regular basis and the two page a week cycle seems pretty cool and let’s me open up my chops for writing and drawing. So, I’m a happy camper.
🙂

Oh, I agree totally… the last frame is just not as funny, or even funny at all, if Robyn were totally in the buff. I like “tease” shots soooo much better than the full on stuff. It’s like listening to the uncut versions of the “Osbornes” TV show. When you hear Ozzy just swearing a blue streak, it’s not that funny. But, when you add in all the censor “beeps” it’s funny as hell and has much more impact. So that is why I offer the “extra skin” versions by email only to members.